The Washington critic., 1887-10-15
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 10, 1897.
THE NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

lation of the Federal Administration.
There is more Imagination than
reality in such an objection, for there
is really no city In the Union where,
politically speaking, the presence of
the Administration would be so little
felt as here
In this respect there Is no comparison
between Washington and the city Of
New York or Siratogq, in either Of
which places the Cleveland influence,
or the llill iuflucpCc, or the Whit
ney influence, each with ils trained
following, familiar with every Inch
of the battle ground, would eNer'
apower impossible 10 be exercised at
the National Capital
Political influences would also enta,
into the proceedings and affect the
results of a convention held at Chicago,
Cincinnati or ST Louis that cpult
never be marshailed In the same
strength upon this neutral ground Of
meeting.
We make bold to say that, so far us
concerned, 1t could he concentrated TO
far more effect even In the ancient city
Of Alexandria than II ever could be In
this city.
In reality, the question of locality is
not of the political importance that is
generally ascribed to 1t In the matter of
nominating conventions. Chairman
Jones of the Republican National Com.
mittee, gentleman whose opinions are
certainly of some weight upon poini
of this kind. said not long ago that, ex
cepting as to candidates TO be nom.
mated, 1t made no sort of difference
where conventions were held, and not
much In this respect. A certain amount
of pressure by the local politicians
might be successfully applied in behalf
Of local favorite; but, aside from this,
Aere could be little or no choice Of
places. 1t absolutely made no differ.
ence with the grand popular result at
the polls.
Washington has the advantage over
all other cities In having no local candl-
dates. We occupy free for all Gov.
eminent reservation, which presents to
both great parties the fairest field for
the selection of their nominees.
As to the influence of the President
or his heads of Departments over the
Judgment of a Democratic Convention
In the Federal Capital, 1t is a far
fetched and unfounded assumption
that 1t could sway the action of dele
gates to any appreciablc extent. But it
Is unnecessary to dwell further on this
head, for the next National Convention
OF the Democratic party will be swayed
in one direction only, whether 1t be
held in Washington, Bangor or San
Diego.
EVERYONE who reads what the
Minneapolis Tribune said about the
President and Mrs. Cleveland, on
occasion Of their recent visit to that
city, will agree with THE Critic that
Editor Ble,hen got Off pretty easy In
being burned in eillgy only.
If he had written four columns ia
summoned all the denunciatory adjcc.
tives contained In the Unabridged
Dictionary to emphasize the charge
that he is swinging round the circle
for political effect, nobody would have
thought, said or cared anything about
II. The idea might have been laughed
at that the President. who only con.
sented to GO West after his repeated
invitations had assumed mandatory
character which he could not ignore,
should have gone at last on a purely
political mission, but no harm would
have been done and the whole thing
would have been forgotten In day.
The grossness Of the 7riJuHs'S of
fense consists in its imputations upon
Mrs. Cleveland as being governed In the
matter Of her marriage by vain and
mercenary motives, and as having sac
rificed to social ambition the highest
qualities Of her womanhood. There Is
no question for argument here. The
indecency Of the attack needs no dia-
gram to make 1t any clearer than it ap.
pears In ordinary type; and the Ameri.
can people, one of whose noblest at.
tributes Is their knightly appreciation
OF woman's honor, will not be slow nor
spaIing In their resentment.
No VALID OBJECTION has been urged
against the removal Of the unsightly
iron fences from Lafayette and Frank.
lin parks. TIE CRITIC would like To
know 1t If any such objection exists
But on the other hand many reasons
suggest themselves why these distig-
urements, like other relics of barbar.
ism, should 90. II Is enough to state
In the first place that they answer NJ
ornamental purpose, and now that our
streets, avenues and squares are no
longer pastured out to vaprant cattle,
horses and goats, they answer no useful
purpose. The necessity that prompted
the erection OF the fences is thing of
the past.
In the second place, they not only
serve to mar the beauty Of the parks,
but TO screen much questionable con-
duct from outside observation. These
Enclosures have come to be frequented
by improper characters Of both sexes
and all colors as places of asslgnalioni
80 much so, in fact, that respectable
people prefer not to venture W thin
them CT u summer evening. Let the
fences be taken down and the evil
would not only be warned away by fear
of exposure but gradually disappear.
The police will bear us out 10 these
Views. So will large public senu.